Sir Arthur John Evans (1851–1941), the pioneer of ancient Cretan archaeology, most famously excavated the ruins of Knossos and uncovered the remains of its Bronze Age Minoan civilisation (as detailed in The Palace of Minos at Knossos, also reissued in this series). In this highly illustrated work, first published in 1901, Evans surveys the recent archaeological evidence from his dig at Knossos as well as from other locations around the Mediterranean. He describes a variety of religious objects and symbols, especially those concerned with sacred stones, pillars and trees, which Evans argues are characteristic of religious worship in the Mycenaean period. He considers in particular the importance of the Cretan double-axe symbol, the labrys, its close link with depictions of bulls and its association with the labyrinth of Knossos. Elsewhere he examines the symbolism of the Lion Gate at Mycenae and finds parallels with similar artefacts found in Crete and Egypt.

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Product details
- Date Published: June 2013
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9781108060912
- length: 126 pages
- dimensions: 297 x 210 x 7 mm
- weight: 0.32kg
- contains: 70 b/w illus. 1 colour illus.
- availability: Available
Table of Contents
1. Cretan caves and hypaethral sanctuaries
2. Sacred fig-tree and altar on a pnyxis from Knossos
3. The dove cult of primitive Greece
4. The association of sacred tree and pillar
5. The 'labyrinth' and the pillar shrines of the god of the double axe
6. The 'baetylos' and baetylic tables of offering
7. Zeus Kappotes
8. Sepulchral stylae
9. The tomb of Zeus
10. Small dimensions of the Mycenaean shrines
11. Aniconic cult images
12. Survivals of tree and pillar cult
13. The ficus ruminalis
14. Semitic religious sources
15. The horns of consecration
16. Trinities and other groups
17. The pillar of the house
18. Egyptian influences
19. The Egyptian element in the animal supporters
20. Sacred trees and foliated pillars
21. Architectural columns with animal supporters
22. Anthropomorphic figures of divinities
23. Mycenaean daemons
24. A Mycenaean 'bethshemesh'
25. Cult scenes relating to a warrior god
26. Sacred gateways
27. The dolmen shrines
28. Fresco representing small baetylic temple
29. Parallels to the baetylic shrines
30. An oriental pillar shrine.
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